Star and Car: Bobby Fox

Irish-born actor delves into deep thoughts while behind the wheel

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$30,990

BASIC SPEC

Star and Car: Bobby Fox

16 Dec 2016Andrew Maclean

What was your first car?

It was like a sapphire green Suzuki Swift Cino that I bought off a mate of mine. It was built to never ever break down. I had a Vespa at the time, but when I came down to Melbourne I found it quite difficult with the tram tracks. So I thought it'd be good to get a cheap car as well. It was $1500.

How did it go?

Look, it's not like it was a super-powerful car or anything. If I had to take off fast, I'd have to quickly switch the air conditioner and the radio off so I could get more torque, a bit more speed. It was hilarious. I ended up selling it for $2000. It was literally the little car that could.

What are you driving now?

A 2012 Subaru XV. It is an absolute champion. I love it. It still smells new. I love how big it is, but also how compact it is. The stereo's fantastic. It feels so safe to drive. It's got luxury and utility.

What's your favourite drive?

I remember driving the Ring of Kerry with a friend of mine years ago. I remember thinking, just, 'wow'. It was so spectacular. It wasn't even really a road. It was more like a series of gravel dustings. It was stunning.

What's your preferred drive soundtrack?

I'm an avid podcast listener. They always make the time fly a bit quicker. I listen to the Hamish and Andy one all the time, and Bill Burr also has a great one. I also listen to the Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince podcast. There's also Alec Baldwin's one, Here's The Thing. I listen to them all.

What's your pet road peeve?

Obviously the classic non-indicating. Or if someone's turning right in front of you and they swing out to the left a little bit before they turn. Why on earth are you doing that? Then there's road rage. These people aren't like this outside of their cars. You sort of step into a vortex of confidence and agility where if you do something wrong, you're sorry, whereas everyone else is a moron if they do it.

Are long drives something you enjoy?

I do a lot of great thinking on long drives. You can allow your thoughts to go continually inward. I had this thing for a while whenever I was in the car where I used to think, 'I am my car's soul'. Then I'd be looking at all the cars moving around the place, forgetting that there were drivers in there. And then I was like, 'who is my soul'? For about six months I would never not think that.

VITAL STATISTICS

1993 – the vintage of my old Suzuki Swift

23 – the age I got it

The lowdown: the Irish-born Australian actor reserves his deepest thinking for the open road.

Career highlights: winning four World Irish Dance Championships; scoring leading musical theatre roles in shows including Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, Hot Shoe Shuffle and Jersey Boys; releasing his album, The Fantastic Mr Fox, in 2014.

Current project: starring in The Ladies In Black (music and lyrics by Tim Finn), touring nationally from January. Visit ladiesinblack.com.au for details.